You’re here because you might have heard the term, “Teddy Bear Yorkie” and are wondering what the heck that means. Or, you saw the headline and you’re just looking for why that name might be used for certain Yorkies.
Just like lots of other kinds of animals, different dogs within a certain breed can come with aliases, sometimes due to differences in genes or appearances. Yorkies are no different, so today, we’re going to give you the complete guide to Teddy Bear Yorkies.
All About Teddy Bear Yorkie
While the Teddy Bear Yorkie isn’t an officially recognized dog type, you will probably hear this term at least once.
There’s no concrete history as to where this term originated, but it’s likely that the phrase started being used to describe Yorkies a while ago. Specifically, breeders would refer to Pomeranians as Teddy Bear Poms.
So, it’s only natural that it became a descriptor for some of our cute, cuddly pets.
What Are Teddy Bear Yorkies?
Something that we do know about Teddy Bear Yorkies is what makes one. There are a few criteria that could tell you whether a Yorkie is a Teddy Bear or not. Below, we’ll get into them.
The first point of distinction is the size of the Yorkie. In general, breeders might call a Yorkie a Teddy Bear if they’re expected to be of low size. While Yorkies are, on average, very small, sometimes breeders will intentionally influence lower-sized litters.
Another attribute of a Teddy Bear Yorkie is that their heads are usually shaped a bit differently from regular Yorkies. It’s likely that as a Yorkie owner, you might have heard the term “Dollface Yorkie.”
A doll face Yorkie is one that was bred to have its face be a bit smaller and flatter. So, if you have a Yorkie whose eyes, nose, and mouth form a heart shape, they have a Teddy Bear trait!
Another trait that Teddy Bear Yorkies have is that their coats are black and tan. Yorkies come in a few different color combinations, but black and tan are the most universally accepted Teddy Bear coloring.
Teddy Bear Yorkies will also tend to have a different coat texture than regular Yorkies do. They might have been bred to have a more wooly coat that doesn’t grow too long, while normal Yorkie fur is fine and silky.
Lastly, we mentioned this in a different article, but there is actually a Teddy Bear haircut you can get for your pup! It will round out some of the hair on your Yorkie’s head to give them some more insulation and make them look more fluffy.
Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: Adorable Yorkie Haircut Styles, Looks, and Fashion – What’s In and What’s Out?
Teddy Bear Yorkie Lifespan – How Long Do Teddy Bear Yorkies Live?
Whether your Yorkie is a Teddy or not, you might be wondering if there is a difference between the Teddy Bear dog’s lifespan and that of the regular breed. The Teddy Bear Yorkie is pretty much as small as it gets.
The significance of their size matters, and in terms of lifespan you could generally expect the smallest dog breeds to live just as long as larger ones. That said, the range you might be looking at for a Teddy Bear dog’s lifespan is about 7 to 9 years.
That said, lifespan can be affected by a number of factors, so that stat takes into account threats like injuries, illnesses, and potential genetic conditions.
In our other articles, we have said that the average Yorkie lifespan, in general, is between 12 and 15 years. So, why is the Teddy Bear Yorkie’s lifespan a bit shorter on average than regular Yorkies?
Well, this can be for a few reasons, as Teddy Bear Yorkies face a few different health threats than larger Yorkies do. While often not serious, over time these conditions can have a negative impact on overall lifespan.
Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: Purebred or Non-Purebred Yorkies – How to Tell if Your Yorkie is Purebred
Below, we’ll give you a bit more information on the problems Teddy Bear Yorkies are more likely to face than their counterparts.
Potential Health Issues
Generally, Teddy Bear Yorkies are susceptible to the same kinds of health issues that regular Yorkies face. For the most part, you won’t find any health issues that are specific to the Teddy Bear Yorkie besides those related to a smaller size.
So, if you’ve owned Yorkies in the past, you’ll just want to do the same things as you’d do for regular Yorkies. Feed them a strong, healthy diet and make sure they get enough exercise.
Smaller Bones and Joints
There is one apparent health threat to Teddy Bear Yorkies that’s less common in regular ones. Because the Teddy Bear Yorkie is almost always smaller than your average one, it may run into specific complications due to its smaller bones and joints.
This shouldn’t be a problem early on, but increased pressure on the joints can be exacerbated by the smaller bones, and thus, the naturally lesser support.
Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: What is a Teacup Yorkie? Should You Get a Teacup Yorkie? Everything You Need to Know
Are There Different Types Of Yorkies?
This one’s easy—yes! There are many different unique types.
Traditional Yorkshire Terrier
The traditional Yorkshire terrier is the one you likely see the most. In fact, with their overall prevalence, you might even have a traditional Yorkie of your own!
Traditional Yorkies have silky, straight coats with a beautiful blueish and tan color.
Teacup Yorkies
These are the smallest Yorkies possible to find. When full-grown Yorkies are still super small in the grand scheme of things, imagine a tiny pup that can only reach a height of 6 inches!
Golden Yorkies
If you watch dog shows, you might have come across a golden Yorkie in your time. These Yorkies are extremely rare, having exclusively golden hair. It’s a beautiful color, so if you see one it’s a special experience!
Parti Yorkies
While the name sounds extra fancy/fun, there aren’t that many differences between Parti Yorkies and traditional ones. Except for the color! Parti Yorkies will have a tan, white, or black coats, different from the traditional black and tan combo.
Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: All About Yorkie Ears: Up or Down, Cropped or Floppy, How to Tape Them & More
Biewer Terriers
Biewer Terriers are the only types of Yorkies that don’t go by the standard name, “Yorkshire Terrier.” This is due to the last name of the first people to breed them, the Biewers. The most notable difference is that these types have full tails.
Black Yorkies
One of the cutest types of Yorkie is the one that is jet-black. This can’t occur in purebred Yorkies, but if you have a Yorkie and black dog mix, you’ll get an adorable black Yorkie!
Mismarked Yorkies
Mismarked Yorkies, if you haven’t guessed, have atypical markings from the norm, and because of that they are not officially recognized as meeting the Yorkie breed standard. However, they’re still Yorkies to us despite the differences!
Yorkie Mixes
Of course, like with most other dog breeds, you’ll be able to find lots of different breed combinations. Generally, you can find a large array of Yorkie mixes! We can see why Yorkie mixes are in high demand.
Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: Yorkies and Chocolate: What You Need to Know – The Doggy Survival Guide
Are Teddy Bear Dogs Easy To Potty Train?
Ah, the age-old question of whether Teddy Bear Yorkies are easy to potty train. When we get a new puppy, this can be a question whose answer might affect many things, training-wise.
All in all, we would not say that Teddy Bear Yorkies are much harder to potty train when compared to other puppies. In fact, Teddy Bears are excitable, friendly dogs, so you might even have an easier time with one.
There are a few specific things you might want to know about your Yorkie before you start potty training. So, in the next section, we’ll let you know a few pointers about this training stage.
What Your Teddy Bear Yorkie Needs to Succeed
Since Teddy Bear Yorkies are prone to separation anxiety (they just love you so much!) and can be needy, you’ll want to make sure that you navigate this well to expedite potty training.
Basically, they need an empathetic, driven teacher like you to help them most comfortably train themselves. Being a helpful teacher will ensure that you don’t see any more accidents around the house.
Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: Everything You Need to Know About Your Newborn Yorkie Puppy
Tips to Potty Train Yorkies
There are a few things you can do as well to help the potty training experience go smoothly.
The first, and potentially most important part of potty training puppies is that they’ll need you to be there a little more than older dogs will in order to let them out regularly. Puppies generate waste a little faster and have less space to hold it, so you’ll really want to make sure you’ve planned ahead and can be home.
After all, the faster you get your Teddy Bear pup potty trained, the less you’ll find messes in the house. We know how inconvenient that can get, so you’ll need to be patient and present. There’s no shame in getting help, either, if you find yourself without the proper time.
Related Questions
Do Teddy Bear Dogs Bark A Lot?
Teddy Bear dogs aren’t known to bark any more than your average dog. That said, if your dog is barking, it likely means that their needs require attention.
So, it’s important to attend to your Teddy Bear dog if they won’t stop barking—usually, this means they need you!
Can Teddy Bear Dogs Be Left Alone?
Unfortunately, Teddy Bear Yorkies as a breed are more likely to need increased attention. They’re needy and prone to separation anxiety.
For this reason, you might want to take measures to train your dog to be alright left alone to its own devices. It can be a gradual but rewarding process!
How Do I Know If My Yorkie Is Full-Blooded?
If you’re wondering whether your Yorkie is a full-blooded Yorkie, the best tell of this can be found right in the coat. Examine the color of your Yorkie’s fur.
Is it exclusively blue and tan? If so, your Yorkie is likely to be a purebred traditional Yorkie. If not, it is likely to be one of the breed types listed above!
